Enns, Jacob D. (1876-1970)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1970 Jul 16 p. 11

Birth date: 1876 Oct 31

text of obituary:

JACOB D. ENNS

Jacob D. Enns was born on Oct. 31, 1876, at Buragon, Crimea, South Russia, to Dietrich T. and [sic sentence incomplete in original]

After residing at Buhler for two of 93 years, seven months, and 12 days, having passed away on June 12, 1970. [sic sentences scrambled in original]

When he was about eight years old he migrated with his parents to the United States and settled in Kansas. At the age of 21, on July 22, 1897, he received Christ his personal Lord and Savior, and on Aug. 6 the same year he was baptized and received in the Mennonite Brethren Church. He was married to Marie Froese on Nov 2, 1900, in Buhler, Kan. with Elder Abraham Schellenberg officiating.

After residing at Buhler for two years after their marriage and one year at Hillsboro, Kan., our parents moved to Medford, Okla. where father was engaged in farming. In 1908 our parents moved to Reedley, Calif, and in 1942 the city of Dinuba, where father resided until his hospitalization.

Father was always active in the work of the Lord and the church. He served as Sunday school superintendent for many years, and as a member of the board of trustees of the church. He helped to build the Reedley M.B. Church building in 1918, and was the building superintendent when the Dinuba M.B. Church erected its building in 1937. He was also active in community interests, serving as clerk of the Board of Trust when the Windsor School was built. He served on the board of the original hospital in Reedley, and on the board of the original Mennonite Brethren Home for Aged.

Father was a man of strong convictions and a firm faith in the Bible, the Word of God. The ministry of intercessory prayer for the church, its pastor, the young people of the church, his family and relatives was one of spiritual concern and seriousness. He found great comfort and strength in the Scriptures.

Surviving him are five children: Mrs. Margaret Neufeld of Blaine, Wash., Elizabeth Enns of Dinuba, Albert J. Enns of Reedley, Calif., Martha, Mrs. John B. Kroeker of San Diego, Calif., Jacob G. Enns Dinuba; one son-in-law, Frank A. Warkentin of Dinuba; nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Katherine Dyck, Tujunga, Calif.

Father was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary, in 1933, and by Mother, on Feb. 14, 1961.

Father had his eyes fixed on the eternal, and so “we shall never lose heart . . . because we keep our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16, 18—Good-speed Translation). — The Jacob D. Enns Family.